Absence of Neuroplastin-65 Affects Synaptogenesis in Mouse Inner Hair Cells and Causes Profound Hearing Loss.

Unlabelled: The Neuroplastin gene encodes two synapse-enriched protein isoforms, Np55 and Np65, which are transmembrane glycoproteins that regulate several cellular processes, including the genesis, maintenance, and plasticity of synapses. We found that an absence of Np65 causes early-onset sensorineural hearing loss and prevented the normal synaptogenesis in inner hair cells (IHCs) in the newly identified mouse mutant pitch. In wild-type mice, Np65 is strongly upregulated in the cochlea from around postnatal day 12 (P12), which corresponds to the onset of hearing.

Report of the clinical protocol committee: development of randomized trials for malignant bowel obstruction.

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a commonly encountered palliative care problem. There have been very few comparative trials in this area, and consequently there is very little clinical evidence upon which therapy can be rationally based. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the discussion and decision-making process that was undertaken by the Clinical Protocol Subcommittee during the development of a proposed clinical trial of best medical care versus surgical or endoscopic treatment for MBO.

Structural basis for red cell phenotypic changes in newly identified, naturally occurring subgroup mutants of the human blood group B glycosyltransferase.

Background: Four amino-acid-changing polymorphisms differentiate the blood group A and B alleles. Multiple missense mutations are associated with weak expression of A and B antigens but the structural changes causing subgroups have not been studied.

Study Design And Methods: Individuals or families having serologically weak B antigen on their red cells were studied.

Diclofenac-induced antibodies against red blood cells are heterogeneous and recognize different epitopes.

Background: Diclofenac (DCF) is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug implicated as a cause of immune hemolytic anemia. Drug derivatives have been suggested to be an important-or probably the primary-immunizing agent in drug-induced immune reactions. A systematic evaluation of 12 patients with DCF-induced immune hemolysis is reported.